Sustainable Food

Increasing the sustainability of the food we buy is one of the ways that we can all make a difference in the fight against climate change.

The Sustainable Development Commission Capital Consumption report from November 2009 found that food consumption is responsible for 10 percent of London’s CO2 emissions, and 19% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Production and Transportation

• The growing of food and raising of livestock often uses large quantities of water, energy and chemicals (such as fertilisers and pesticides).
• Some food types are responsible for greater carbon emissions than others, with meat and dairy being the single biggest contributors.
• Food will often be transported long distances from where it is produced to where it is consumed.

Purchasing

• Food growers in developing countries often struggle to receive a fair price for their produce.
• Some foods use large amounts of packaging. Even if some of this can be recycled, the amount of energy needed to produce and then re-process this material is very significant.

Waste

• About a quarter of all food and drink purchased in the UK is wasted.
• Most food waste ends up in landfill sites, where it contributes to climate change by giving off methane and other greenhouse gases as it rots.

How you can make a difference

By considering the impact of our food, buying only what we need, and reducing, reusing and recycling as much as possible, we can all play our part in helping to protect the environment.

The following pages provide more information on sustainable food:

• Resources for food projects - details of funding opportunities and other resources available for community food projects in Haringey
• Fairtrade - more information on how to make purchasing choices to give food producers a better deal
• Food waste recycling - information on the recycling collection service for food waste, offered to residents with a green box for their other recycling
• Love Food Hate Waste (external link) - external website run by WRAP, offering information on reducing food waste, including recipes for leftovers or expired food products
• Save A Crust (external link) – a campaign run by NLWA, who are offering free cookery workshops for Haringey residents on 2 February at Hollywood Green and 1 March 2019 at Welbourne Primary School Play Centre. Attendees will learn how to use up their leftover bread and save up to £60 per month.

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